My story, the beginning...

December 10, 2010 my mother, Cindy Lovell, passed away after battling breast cancer for the second time.

Shortly before her passing we (my sister and I) decided to pursue genetic testing as urged my my doctor. The testing was done through Myriad Genetics, located in Salt Lake City, UT which was very costly.

My mother was tested for multiple genetic mutations, (thus the high cost...) my sister and I paid substantially less for our tests due the specific mutation already being identified through my mother.

Just two weeks after my mothers passing I was informed that I was a carrier of the same mutation as my mother and that my sister had tested negative.

Upon receipt of the test results I felt overwhelming despair. For several weeks all I could do was barely function. Having only had a couple of weeks to heal since my mother's passing, the pain was very fresh. For me, I went through a process of anger, denial and then different levels of acceptance all mixed together with the grieving and healing process of losing my beloved Mother.

As the weeks passed I was able to look at things a little more objectively and I began my process of research and understanding of my genetic mutation and all of my options associated with it.

With a combination of counseling with my doctor, my husband and theLord through personal prayer, we began our journey through hope, health and healing.

I am in constant search for the keys to a healthy and long life. I lost both of my parents In their 50's and I am determined to NOT walk down the same path of I'll health and premature death.

If you have any questions please feel free to email me at joshcami@yahoo.com


Location:My story...the beginning

Welcome!!

Welcome to my blog...the following two entries will explain my journey through the first six months of finding out about the BRCA mutation and my medical journey.   Following those posts are many more on the research I have done on the mutation and cancer in general.  I have done my best to TAG my posts for easy reference.  If you have any questions on anything posted here feel free to contact me at joshcami@yahoo.com.   


Happy Reading,
Cami

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Hysterectomy, my first step...

Right now the recommendation for a woman who tests posative for the BRCA mutation is to have a hysterectomy and total mastectomy, reducing both ovarian and breast cancer significantly...down to the risk of an average woman.

I took these recommendations hard. I feared dealing with hormonal problems and depression as my mother did after her hysterectomy at the age of 23. I wasn't sure if the risk of potentially facing mental instability was worth the procedure.

Choosing hysterectomy, for me, was a combination of logic, fear of cancer and lots of prayer.

Logically, it all made sense. With six children...I was not planning on any more babies. Likewise, ovarian cancer does not have very high survival rates as it is not usually found until very advanced stages. In addition to reducing my ovarian cancer risk, a hysterectomy also would cut my breast cancer risk in half by reducing the amount of estrogen my body would produce.

Fear of cancer played a large role as my mother had so recently passed away in my home and in my arms. I was committed to doing everything in my power to prevent walking down the same path as my sweet mother.

And of course, prayer and personal revelation. I felt strongly that I was moving in the right direction. So...without haste, I scheduled my procedure for the end of march...just 3 months after finding out my positive test results. The decision carried with it a large emotional burden as I was still grieving my mothers passing and now I had added to my life fear of the same fate, fear of not being able to grow old with my husband or see my children and grandchildren through their lives. I wanted to live a long and fulfilling life and now I was facing my own mortality in a way that i don't think anyone could prepare for properly.

I shed lots of tears, even up to being wheeled into the operating room. I didn't know what to expect and now I was just operating on faith.

Now I am 2 1/2 months down the road and I feel great. I have not had one single regret. Recovery was tedious, mostly because I felt great and was having a hard time with the physical restrictions by my doctor. With six kids it was almost impossible to refrain from lifting my baby, vacuuming, mopping, laundry and other heavy household chores.

One hurdle down...one more to go. With my appointments at the Huntsman Cancer center secured, anxiety continued to mount looking forward to the next potential and far more invasive procedure.

Stay tuned for the rest of the story...

Mastectomy, facing reality...

Let me preface my experience at the Huntsman with a little background of how I got there...

I spent months looking into mastectomy options. My Doctor and trusted friend recommended that I find a doctor who could do a total skin sparing mastectomy which spares all of the breast skin, nipple etc. Breast tissue is removed through an incision and then the patient has the option of reconstruction the breast using her own tissue (usually stomach fat) or implant. The surgeries are done simultaneously (8-12 hours of VERY invasive surgery) and is considered much less disfiguring than a traditional mastectomy and then more surgery with a reconstruction months later.

I spent months making phone calls only to find out that MOST (almost all) plastic surgeons choose to practice the cosmetic side of surgery and would do a reconstruction but only after the mastectomy had healed.

Since I was not interested in having my breast completely removed...my search went on.

I found various degrees of what I was looking for, but not exactly and many of the Surgeons were located states away. I decided to change the wording in my google search which brought me directly to the University of Utah, Huntsman Cancer Center. Their Breast care team included a woman by the name of Dr. Leigh Neighmeyer who (if I remember correctly) is a pioneer in the total skin sparing mastectomy, and Dr. Jay Arguwal the general surgeon who partners her on the procedure. I was excited to have finally found this amazing resource so close to home.

Shortly after my hysterectomy I made my appointment with the Huntsman Cancer Center and spent the preceding weeks in tears as I didn't really want to accept either of my fates...BRCA mutation and the large likelihood of early breast cancer or losing both of my breasts to surgery.

I feared self acceptance...would I be able to accept my body with major scars. Would I be able to accept the consequence of failed implants and potentially having no breasts. My answer was "i don't think so" to both questions. But if it was the right thing to do, I was trying to dig deep to find a way to move forward with faith.

As we entered the cancer center I looked around at the many patients sitting in the waiting rooms, some in wheel chairs, some on oxygen and I tried to remind myself that I was there because I was choosing to be...not because I had to be.

The next three hours of my appointments I will sum up quickly...Everything I had hoped for (and based my decision on,) was not possible.

First I had met with the general surgeon and I was informed that I did not have enough tissue (stomach fat) to reconstruct my breasts to the same size that I am currently. Dr. Arguwal also strongly encouraged going with implants (which surprised me,) because it was FAR less invasive and easier to recover from. He mainly recommended using your own tissue if a breast has been radiated...therefore too tender to support an implant.

He also mentioned that Total skin sparing was ideal for smaller size breasts (size A and B) because of blood flow. The main flow of blood comes from your chest cavity and is removed with mastectomy, therefore leaving the only blood supply coming from the clavicle area. The new blood supply is weaker and will not support sizes above B well, leaving the patient with the potential of dying skin.


Dr Leigh Neighmeyer upon examination also said that I was not a good candidate and she HIGHLY recommended a full mastectomy and full reconstruction (at the same time) with implant. We viewed many images of reconstructed breasts, different incision styles and different implants.

Both Josh and I were completely discouraged at this point as this is not what I had envisioned. They were ready to pencil me in for surgery, but we declined and needed to go home, revaluate and put a lot more thought into the procedure.

On the drive home and for a week to follow I spent much of the time in tears, Tears of fear. I feared Cancer as I had recently watched my mother die and I feared the disfiguring mastectomy. Neither seemed like a good option, I couldn't even bring myself to make a decision to take to the Lord. One day I prayed, I prayed that my mind would simply be led to the decision that would be right for me. I then picked up my computer and the first thing I found was THIS study about my EXACT mutation.

I have read lots of anti-cancerous news and studies, but this one was different, it lifted my heart and mind. I knew that my answer was not to have the surgery. I had the distinct impression that the hysterectomy was enough and that if I do all I can to be healthy then the Lord will make up the difference. I sobbed, but this time with gratitude. My heart hadn't felt this light for months and I knew that the Lord spoke to me that day and guided my heart and mind.

The study was very promising...but I need to make clear that I was following the promptings to my mind that "led" me there than putting all my trust into this one study. I do however believe that I can (largely) be the chooser of my own health if I choose to be educated and proactive in what I choose to put into my body.

I just read a study that Cancer is expected to increase 15% each year from now until 2020...YIKES that sounds really scary, but it doesn't have to be. I choose not to be scared, but instead be empowered!

Great News!!

Got my thyroid test back after supplimenting with iodine for about a year....aaaaand my thyroid came back normal. 

Hurrrrray!  I am so excited, a tangable victory for me.

My resources

A friend of mine asked me to post links to where I purchase all my supplements etc...here it is, hope it helps!

Vitamin D...Costco, it's about $16 for two large bottles of liquid Vit D. It tastes a lot like apple juice. My kids like it and happily take it daily. I add it to my vegetable juice and helps to sweeten it up a little.

Iodine: HERE is where I buy mine (15%,) I have also seen it on Amazon.com. I purchase at Herbal Healers because they sell a more concentrated form of iodine. I believe the highest concentration you can get in the US is 2% which is supplement level. If your going to help your thyroid...it's just not strong enough unless you are going to take like 30-40 drops at a time. I bought a larger bottle of 5% for food storage.

Hydrogen Peroxide: I got mine in Idaho Falls at "Wealth of Health" natural food store along with glass dropper bottles. Not all health food stores carry HP, so get on the phone and call around before heading out to get it.

Sprouts: I order my sprouts from sproutpeople.com. Alfalfa is easy to sprout and you can get those seeds anywhere, but broccoli sprouts are more sensitive and I have had a significantly more successful harvest with broccoli seeds ordered from sprout people. I will be buying alfalfa seeds for long term storage at Walton Feed by the 50 lb bag and storing them in storage buckets. A food storage specialist summed up sprouting like this..."all the food you have stored for the long term is processed (it has to be to last years,) those foods are the fillers...your sprouts are the nutrients." I whole heartedly agree. It's a garden that grows in 3 days right inside your kitchen.

I sprout using the sprout master. I like it because it has good air circulation and drains easy. I can sprout 1/4 cup of alfalfa or broccoli in the large trays. I also have the easy sprouter (cups) they are about a quart in size and I use them when I travel, they are really easy to transport and you soak, grow and store all in the sami container. These both are also available at sproutpeople.com.

Coconut Oil: I have bought my coconut oil at Fred Meyer in their natural food section...also by the gallon at Nutivia.com. It doesn't matter what brand it is...just make sure is is extra virgin organic Coconut oil.

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Hydrogen Peroxide

When I was listing my daily regime I forgot to add Food Grade Hydrogen Peroxide. I put about 6-7 drops of 3% food grade HP in a glass of milk every morning and every night.

This is one supplement that I added to my regimen, going on the idea that the facts made sense since I couldn't find much info online about it. Since then I found some great info with studies that backs up HP and I continue to use it.

HP is H2O2...just one oxygen molecule more than water. When you ingest H2O2 the extra oxygen molecule oxygenates your body (like juicing...fresh fruits and veggies are anti-cancerous because they are full of oxygen and oxygenate your body.)

The first thing I noticed when I started taking HP is that my complexion changed...it started looking much better, more pinkish. Being a photographer I am familiar with skin undertones. Some people are blueish, some yellow, some reddish. I am guessing the change in my skin tone has to do with the color change that happens to blood when exposed to oxygen.

I have to note that I didn't notice anything big with the addition of HP to my diet (mainly because I am pretty healthy already)...mainly just my skin tone.

What convinced me that it had impacted my health was when I went to see Dr. West...a natural health chiropractor (that does WAY more than chiropractic) that uses intravenous HP and vitamin C to cure anything from lupus to cancer.

When I went to see Dr. W I was there to have my blood viewed microscopically...which is a pretty big indicator of someones overall health.

Honestly, I was a bit nervous, probably a little fearful of what I might found out. To my relief, my blood looked really good. I had very little environmental toxins if any in my blood (sprouts help connect the pathways that your body uses to get rid of toxic substances that enter our bodies,) and the most important thing of all...was I didn't have any ghost cells.

Ghost cells, which are disrupted (leaky) membranes and no longer contain hemoglobin They can indicate the presence of disease. Ghost cells are caused by oxidization in the body...since HP oxygenates it helps keep your body full of oxygen and free of disease.

A friend of mine also had her blood drawn by Dr. W and had pretty healthy looking blood, except that she had a lot of ghost cells. She does just about everything I do daily like juicing, iodine, vit D, and sprouts. The only difference in our daily regimen is that I have added HP. I dare say that she is even a little better in her diet than me. I truly believe that the excellent condition on my blood is due to my eating and lifestyle changes and the addition of HP. On a scale of 0-10, 0 being perfect and 10 being dead...Dr. W rated my blood at a 1. I was super excited considering all that I have been doing for my health, it was nice to see that it is making a difference inside...where it matters.

I read a good description of how HP works a while back...I will do my best to relay it here...

A lake is stagnant water and full of bacteria and other yucky stuff that thrives in low Oxygen environments, whereas a rushing mountain stream is is full of oxygen and you can drink straight from it. When the water is oxygenated it does not allow bacteria or the such to survive and maintains a pure quality. Our bodies function the same way...more oxygen less disease.

Click here to read about FOOD GRADE HP

Happy reading! I don't have all the answers on HP...just a few online resources and my own experience. Dr W in Pocatello successfully treats many diseases using IV treatments of HP and probably has much more information to share on the topic.

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My Daily Regimine

I have had several people ask me to post about my daily nutrition routine. On an optimal day I get everything in...but being that I am a mother of six children, optimal days are few and far between! I would say that I get everything in about 70% of the time. I am dedicated to my health and it is A LOT of work. After awhile it mostly becomes a matter of routine.

I usually start my day off with exercise. Exercise cuts your cancer risks in half for multiple reasons. 1. keeps insulin levels low which prevents systemic inflammation (research is showing huge links to chronic inflammation and disease.) 2. Keeps your lymph system moving. Our bodies have twice as much lymph fluid as blood and our blood has a pump (heart.) Exercise and movement is what keeps our lymph system moving and preventing it from becoming stagnant. 3. Reduced estrogen levels which is particularly beneficial to breast cancers.

A study by Harvard Medical School showed that Women with Breast Cancer who exercised 3 times a week improved their chance of survival by 40%. This benefit also remained regardless of whether the cancer was an isolated tumor or it had already spread.

It has also been suggested that apoptosis (programmed cell death) is triggered by exercise, causing cancer cells to die.

Breakfast: 2 C freshly juiced veggies usually carrot, tomato, cucumber, broccoli, spinach celery. From there it varies to what i have on hand. In my juice I add iodine and liquid vitamin D3. I also take a probiotic in the morning.

Vitamins: magnesium, krill oil supplement, selenium (key to body utilizing the iodine)

Sprouts: I eat about a cup of alfalfa sprouts and a half a cup of brocolli sprouts. I put them in a bowl and eat them like a salad (I don't put dressing on them...some people do.)

Coconut Oil: I melt a coupled tablespoons of coconut oil into a small cup of hot chocolate sometime in the early afternoon.

Melatonin: I take a melatonin at night. We all know that sleep has a hand on our overall health and we produce melatonin when we sleep. The older we get the less melatonin we produce. I read a study (which I can't find now) that showed that nurses who worked the night shift had a 60% increased incidence of breast cancer (our bodies can't produce melatonin while sleeping during the light hours,) and blind women (who produce melatonin all the time) had a zero incidence of breast cancer. It has been suggested, especially as we age that a melatonin supplement in very beneficial. I prefer to get mine from Mercola.com (go to products) as his is bio identical melatonin and not artificial.

Other than this I try to fill the rest of my diet with as much nutritious whole, low sugar food. Do I eat desserts, absolutely...I just try to limit them. The more I embrace a wholistic diet the less I crave junk, but I definitely do indulge...keeps my diet realistic and not extreme!


Some reads on Melatonin

HERE

HERE

Another reason for sprouting...

When it comes to Breast Cancer and our health in general, we know that hormones play a vital role in our well being. We as a western society are most definitely being infused with many environmental estrogens that come in many forms. It is thought that one of the largest influencers on our hormone systems is pesticides which mimic estrogen once entered into our bodies, and secondary is our meats such as chicken, beef etc pumped full of growth hormone for faster development. Each of these (and many more toxins) enter our bodies...and what is happening after that is likely not in our best interest. Girls are developing and experiencing puberty several years earlier than the previous generation and male sperm count is thought to have reduced up to 50%.

There are steps that can be taken to reduce the amount of xenoestrogens introduced to our systems. Xenoestrogens are non-natural hormones entering our bodies from outside sources. One thing that I recently started doing is soaking my veggies in a bowl of water containing 1/2 tsp of aluminum free baking soda. Baking soda is alkaline and will neutralize the pesticides. There are other options for cleansing veggies you could research including apple cider vinegar, alkaline water and food grade hydrogen peroxide.

Another step I take is to purchase AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE natural meats. Our chickens recently died, so now I am buying free range organic eggs, its a bit more expensive but worth the cost. We grow our own grass fed beef (don't buy organic beef, in order to be marked organic it must be grain fed...not good for you, I'll post more on that later,) and I try to buy chicken free of hormones (chicken is harder to find hormone free.) Most milk these days (including Costco's) are marked hormone free...the farmers *pledge* not to feed their cows hormones....but I would love to see a brand "certified" hormone free. One item I haven't found anywhere to be hormone free is cheese, I guess sour cream, yogurt and cottage cheese fall into this category too. I hope, as people become demand more pure products, we will be able to find them more easily.

So....how does all this tie into sprouting?

A diet rich in phytonutrients is thought to be protective to our hormone system. Phytoestrogens are natural plant based substances found in soybeans, licorice, yams and alfalfa (and lots of other foods,) that are thought to bind estrogen cell receptors and protect them from accepting the more damaging xenoestrogens (which come from our environment like pesticides, hormone infuse meat, milk and eggs.)






One good reason to sprout and eat a cup a day of alfalfa sprouts!!! The possibility of protecting our delicate hormone system...potentially avoiding hormone fed cancers (breast, ovarian, testicular etc) and other hormone balanced functions like the metabolism and thyroid.

Juicing for health

Green juice doesn't sound too appetizing to most...but I've learned to love it and my body craves my yummy veggies every day.

I get a lot of questions about juicing and why I do it.

Why not just eat lots of raw veggies? When vegetables are juiced it increases the boiavailability of the nutrients the vegetables have to offer. When our bodies process fruits and vegetables we have eaten, it has to digest the food including the fiber before it can access all of the nutrients. Many of our bodies aren't very efficient at digestion due to our largely processed diets. By juicing, the fiber is already broken down and makes available more nutrients than you would normally get otherwise. Juicing should not replace your daily servings of vegetables, just add juicing to the vegetables you already include in your diet daily.

Juicing helps in the Absorption of Nutrients – If your digestive system is less than optimal, it can be difficult to absorb all of the nutrients when eating greens. Juicing will break down the cell walls of vegetables so that they are pre-digested for you. This means that all of the nutrients go straight into your system.

Juicing Means that You Can Eat More Greens – You probably aren't going to eat a whole head of celery in a day…but you can easily drink a whole head of celery juice. Juicing also allows you to consume a wide variety of greens all at once. You most likely wouldn't have kale, cucumber, celery and parsley for breakfast, but you can enjoy it as a juice.

Juicing is a Great Way to Get Loads of Chlorophyll, which is the building block of our bodies. Chlorophyll is what makes plants green, and it is perhaps the most powerful element that exists in the universe. It is medicine for our bodies. It increases the flow of oxygen to all parts of the body, which means we release more carbon dioxide, toxins and stress. Plenty of oxygen means that our bodies become an aerobic environment where disease cannot live. An anaerobic environment is where disease thrives.

Green Vegetables contain Nearly all of the Trace Minerals we Need – Most people are seriously lacking in essential minerals which mean that our bodies are not equipped with the necessary resources to fight disease and feel fantastic. Green juice is a great way to get all of the vital minerals for vibrant health.

Green Juice Provides us with the Enzymes that we need to cleanse, detoxify and renew at a cellular level. Enzymes are also needed to digest food. We cannot have amazing health without enzymes. Cooking and processing of any type destroys all enzymes, so raw food, especially greens, is absolutely essential to maintain healthy enzyme levels. A daily green juice is a sure way to maintain enzyme levels.

Juicing Makes Greens Taste Great – As mentioned above, juicing can make greens more palatable. This is because they can be sweetened with an apple or carrot. I personally don't add fruit to my juice very often, but I always add carrot...which can go a long way to making your juice sweet and tasty.

Dr. Mercola, a MD specializing in a natural approach to health and disease treatment and prevention recommends drinking a quart of freshly juiced veggies per day to help prevent cancer.

How does juicing prevent cancer? As mentioned above it is beneficial to help cleanse and detoxify on a cellular level. Also very important...adding oxygen to our cells encourages health and vitality and dismissing disease. Much more can be found online about juicing, health, disease prevention and cancer prevention...one great place to start is juiceladyinfo.com.

Benefits of coconut oil...

The health benefits of coconut oil is obvious to anyone who has studied the health of those who live in traditional tropical cultures, where coconut has been a nutritious diet staple for thousands of years.

Back in the 1930's, a dentist named Dr. Weston Price traveled throughout the South Pacific, examining traditional diets and their effect on dental and overall health. He found that those eating diets high in coconut products were healthy and trim, despite the high fat concentration in their diet, and that heart disease was virtually non-existent.

Similarly, in 1981, researchers studied populations of two Polynesian atolls. Coconut was the chief source of caloric energy in both groups. The results, published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition,[2] demonstrated that both populations exhibited positive vascular health.

In fact, no evidence exists that the naturally occurring high saturated fat intake had any kind of harmful effect in these populations!

That's not what you expected, is it? Based on 60 years of negative public policy towards naturally occurring saturated fats, you would expect these cultures to be rife with clogged arteries, obesity and heart disease.

It may be surprising for you to realize that the naturally occurring saturated fat in coconut oil actually has some amazing health benefits, such as:

Promoting your heart health
Promoting weight loss, when needed
Supporting your immune system health
Supporting a healthy metabolism
Providing you with an immediate energy source
Keeping your skin healthy and youthful looking
Supporting the proper functioning of your thyroid gland
But how is this possible?

50 percent of the fat content in coconut oil is a fat rarely found in nature called lauric acid. The only other place that lauric acid is found is in mother's breast milk. Your body converts lauric acid into monolaurin, which has anti-viral, anti-bacterial and anti-protozoa properties.

Monolaurin is a monoglyceride which can actually destroy lipid coated viruses such as:

HIV, herpes
Measles
Influenza virus
Various pathogenic bacteria
Protozoa such as giardia lamblia.

Lauric acid is a powerful virus and gram-negative bacteria destroyer, and coconut oil contains the most lauric acid of any substance on earth.

Capric acid, another coconut fatty acid present in smaller amounts, has also been added to the list of coconut's antimicrobial components.

Coconut oil is also about 2/3 medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs), also called medium-chain triglycerides or MCTs. These types of fatty acids produce a whole host of health benefits.

Coconut oil is nature's richest source of these healthy MCFAs which our bodies immediately burn for energy instead of storing it as fat.

Your body sends medium-chain fatty acids directly to your liver to use as energy. This makes coconut oil a powerful source of instant energy to your body, a function usually served in the diet by simple carbohydrates.

Coconut oil does not produce an insulin spike in your bloodstream. Coconut oil acts on your body like a carbohydrate, without any of the debilitating insulin-related effects associated with long-term high carbohydrate consumption!

Diabetics and those with pre diabetes should immediately realize the benefit of a fast acting energy source that doesn't produce an insulin spike in your body. In fact, coconut oil added to the diets of diabetics and pre-diabetics has actually been shown to help stabilize weight gain, which can dramatically decrease your likelihood of getting adult onset type-2 Diabetes.

One of the best benefits of coconut oil lies in its ability to help stimulate your metabolism.

Back in the 1940s, farmers found out about this effect by accident when they tried using inexpensive coconut oil to fatten their livestock.

It didn't work! Instead, coconut oil made the animals lean, active and hungry.

However, many animal and human research studies have demonstrated that replacing LCFAs with MCFAs results in both decreased body weight and reduced fat deposition.

In fact, the ability of MCFAs to be easily digested, to help stimulate the metabolism and be turned into energy has entered the sports arena. Several studies have now shown that MCFAs can enhance physical or athletic performance.

Additionally, research has demonstrated that, due to its metabolic effect, coconut oil increases the activity of the thyroid. And you've probably heard that a sluggish thyroid is one reason why some people are unable to lose weight, no matter what they do.

Besides weight loss, there are other advantages to boosting your metabolic rate. Your healing process accelerates. Cell regeneration increases to replace old cells, and your immune system functions better overall.

Heart disease is the number one cause of death in the U.S. And heart disease is often a silent killer. The first sign of cardiovascular disease is commonly a heart attack, and sadly, over one third of heart attacks are fatal.

And despite the propaganda, the truth is this: it is UNSATURATED fats that are primarily involved in heart disease, not the naturally occurring saturated fats, as you have been led to believe.

Plus, the polyunsaturated fats in vegetable and seed oils encourage the formation of blood clots by increasing platelet stickiness. Coconut oil helps to promote normal platelet function.

Coconut Oil in Your Kitchen

I only use two oils in my food preparation.

The first, extra-virgin olive oil, is a better monounsaturated fat that works great as a salad dressing.

There is only one oil that is stable enough to resist mild heat-induced damage, while it also helps you promote heart health and even supports weight loss and thyroid function -- coconut oil.

So, whenever you need an oil to cook with, use coconut oil instead of butter, olive oil, vegetable oil, margarine, or any other type of oil called for in recipes.

The medium-chain fats in coconut oil are considered so nutritious that they are used in baby formulas, in hospitals to feed the critically ill, those on tube feeding, and those with digestive problems. Coconut oil has even been used successfully by doctors in treating aluminum poisoning.

Coconut oil is also very hormone balancing (thus it's ability to aid your metabolism,) again, do just a little research on your own and you can find many more advantages to incorporating coconut oil in your diet.

Remember, our bodies function as a whole, there are many pieces of the health puzzle that have to come together to create a whole picture. None of the things that I post on this blog are a miracle cure or can or should act alone, but in conjunction with many other puzzle pieces to complete your health. This post is also not intended to diagnose, prescribe or to take the place of medical advice, but to add to your tool box of healthy habits. Cami

Broccoli sprouts anyone???

A chemical in vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage, as well as another one found in fermented soy, can increase DNA repair in cells. This could prevent them from becoming cancerous.

Links have already been established between eating certain vegetables and a reduction in cancer risk. These findings suggest a mechanism for why that might be the case.

Vegetables such as broccoli contain a compound called IC3.

This chemical increases the amount of BRCA proteins present in cells. These proteins prevent damaged genetic material from being passed from one generation of cells to the next.

Cancer cells typically contain low amounts of BRCA proteins, and faulty BRCA signaling heightens one's risk of some cancers, including prostate, breast and ovarian. - BBC news 2006

Brittish Journal of Oncology

This study made me really excited...as it was one of the real pieces of tangible information that gave me some level of hope that I didn't have to fall victim to my genetic mutation. That being said...I am not a believer of one particular thing, either life style or diet that is a cure all. As you read throughout my blog you will see (as I have time to post) that I do MANY things for my health and this is just one piece of the puzzle.

In this study, if you have the time and patience to delve into it, you will see that the amount of cruciferous vegetables one would have to eat to affect a mutated gene is quite large...more than most could eat in a day.

However, if you eat broccoli sprouts, because they are so concentrated with IC3, you would only have to eat an ounce a day to get the recommended amount of IC3 for the genetic impact.

I have become quite the sprouter at my house...not just broccoli, but alfalfa and mung beans and others.

Do some research on sprouts, they are an amazing super food that everyone should grow and consume. They should also be an important part of your food storage in case of drought or hardship...In just a few days you can grow an amazing pure super food vegetable in your kitchen for pennies.

Broccoli Sprouts and Cancer

Why Sprout

Iodine, why it's so important...

One of my research efforts I came across a link of two topics that intertwine and both have health interest to me. The first one would be thyroid as I have had a hypo thyroid for at least 4 years and the second topic being breast health.

As I was researching ways to support my thyroid naturally I came upon an article written by Dr. James A. Who is a board certified specialist in internal medicine and spent 34 years caring for office and hospital patients. After 4 years of personal study he became convinced that natural products and treatments are safer, more effective, and less expensive than pharmaceutical drugs.

I suggest you take time to read his whole article....but I will post some important excerpts here..

Dr. Howenstine

"There is considerable evidence for an increased risk of thyroid cancer as well as breast cancer in persons with iodine deficiency. Untreated iodine deficiency leads to goiter, thyroid nodules and eventually some of these nodules become malignant. The decreasing intake of iodine has resulted in an increase in thyroid nodules and increase in thyroid cancer. In 2001 there were 19,500 new cases of thyroid cancer in the U.S. with 14,900 of these cases occurring in women.

The mammary glands have a trapping system for iodine similar to that of the thyroid gland. The breasts effectively compete with the thyroid gland for ingested iodine. This distribution of iodine to both breast and thyroid gland in pubertal girls explains why goiter is 6 times more common in girls than pubertal boys. The disappearance of iodine into breast tissue in women leads to decreased ability to supply the thyroid gland with an adequate amount of iodine. The development of a goiter in young girls indicates deficient distribution of iodine to both breast and thyroid tissue. Treating such a patient with thyroid hormone is not sensible and appears to increase the risk of breast cancer."



target="_blank">HERE is an article about fibrosystic breast disease and iodine. Within weeks of adding iodine as a supplement to my diet I noticed my breasts were less fibrous. In the past I avoided doing self breast exams fearing the more lumpy texture of my breast tissue...which I feel has largely changed due to the iodine.

As for my thyroid, I have physically felt better almost immediately with the addition of iodine. I have not yet retested my thyroid function and plan to at my next Dr. visit which won't be until next January.

One thing to note about refilling your iodine stores is that it is a slow process...your body only absorbs a small amount daily and over months can return to normal thyroid health.

I would recommend finding a health practitioner who can help you with testing and dosing of iodine. Iodine can be measured in a test called "iodine loading test" or a patch test.

Iodine loading test is completed with a 24 hour urine catch by a MD or a chiropractor (not all do this test) whereas the patch test, while not as measurable by numbers can be done at home.
Patch test instructions

I chose to test and supplement on my own. While I can't advise anyone else on how much iodine they should supplement with, If you choose to supplement iodine on your own I suggest you do your own research and carefully weigh the information with what you determine would be a proper amount for your body. I personally have read many studies and monitor how I feel, combined with the patch test to make sure I am supplementing properly. Another thing my chiropractor told me was to watch for a metallic taste in my mouth...reduce your iodine amount as your body is getting more than it needs.

HERE is another good read (more technical, but good,) about iodine and gene expression in breast cancer, Its worth muddling through the big words.

Remember, our bodies function as a whole, there are many pieces of the health puzzle that have to come together to create a whole picture. None of the things that I post on this blog are a miracle cure or can or should act alone, but in conjunction with many other puzzle pieces to complete your health. This post is also not intended to diagnose, prescribe or to take the place of medical advice, but to add to your tool box of healthy habits. Cami